Article transfer

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for handling relatively soft articles such as freshly molded bars of soap effects transfer of the soap bars, as to a wrapping machine, by a system wherein each soap bar in turn is picked up by a suction device from an incoming conveyor and deposited in spaced relation on another conveyor, and another suction device picks up each spaced bar in turn and delivers it to a wrapping station. During the entire transfer between the incoming conveyor and the wrapping station movement of each soap bar is accomplished without mechanical gripping or sliding of the bar along guide surfaces.

United States Patent 191 Henry et al.

[111 3,823,809 [451 July 16, 1974 ARTICLE TRANSFER [75] Inventors:Marcel Henry, Les Chenes-Ermont;

Andre Malatray, Bois-DArcy, both of France [73] Assignee:Colgate-Palmolive Company, New

York,

22 Filed: Jan. 6, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 215,773

u [30] Foreign Application Priority Data -...T J UJJ QZL FIBE:.'11:: v

[52] [1.8. C1 198/25, 214/1 BV [51] Int. Cl. B65g 47/100 [58] Field ofSearch 214/1 BV, 1 BD; 198/20 R, 198/25, 103, 179

[56] References Cited 6/1968 Benatar 214/1 B UX 5/1972 Harris 198/25Primary Examiner-Edward A. Sroka Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Strauch,Nolan, Neale, Nies & Kurz 57 ABSTRACT Apparatus for handling relativelysoft articles such as freshly molded bars of soap effects transfer ofthe soap bars, as to a wrapping machine, by a system wherein each soapbar in turn is picked up by a suction device from an incoming conveyorand deposited in spaced relation on another conveyor, and anothersuction device picks up each spaced bar in turn and delivers it to awrapping station. During the entire transfer between the incomingconveyor and the wrapping station movement of each soap bar isaccomplished without I mechanical gripping or sliding of the bar alongguide surfaces.

aim m PAIENTEDJUL 1 81914 SHEEIBUFB mm m I q 3.823.809

saw a are l ARTICLE TRANSFER This invention relates to the efficient anddamagefree handling and transfer of relatively soft articles,particularly articles that are subject to deformation or surfacemarking.

In its preferred embodiment the invention will be disclosed fortransferring individual articles, such as relatively soft cakes or barsof soap, detergent or the like, between operational stations in aforming and packaging system. More specifically the invention will bedisclosed for the handling of these soap or like bars being transferredto a packaging station such as in the ma chine disclosed in Billi U.S.Pat. N0.'3,338,026.

As disclosed in the Billi patent, a soap or like bar entering themachine is usually placed on an endless conveyor that delivers bars inspaced timed relation to a rotary transfer unit that in turn disposeseach bar in operative relation to a wrapping station where the bar iswrapped in one or more sheets of paper and moved on for final handling.In machines of the type disclosed in said patent, and indeed in soapwrapping and like ma chines known to applicant, each soap bar issubjected to mechanical gripping and/or sliding over stationary guidesurfaces both during deposit on the conveyor and pick-up and transfer bythe rotary unit. This mechanical handling has created problems of soapdeformation and surface marring that are particularly evident in thehandling of relatively soft so -called superfatted soaps and in highspeed systems where the soap bar is delivered to the wrapping station assoon as possible after pressing and may still be so relatively warm andsoft as to be vulnerable to deformation.

It is the major object of the invention to eliminate the foregoingdifficulties.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus andmethod for the damage-free transfer of relatively soft soap or like barsas at a wrapping station, wherein the soap surface is not subjected tomechanical gripping or sliding along guide surfaces during transfer.

Further objects of the invention will appear in connection with thedisclosure including the appended drawings and the annexed claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 4 is an enlarged generallyperspective view showing apparatus for picking up soap from the feedconveyor and delivering it to the'wrapping station;

FIG. 4A is a side elevation showing the control-cam for the suction headof FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through the suction control valve atthe apparatus of either FIG. 3 or FIG. 4;

FIG. 6is a section substantially at line 6-6 of FIG. 5 and showingcontrol passages according to F IG; 3;

. FIG. 7 is a section substantially at line 7--7 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a generally perspective view of the stationary valve member,showing port and passage detail; v

FIG. 9 is a section like FIG. 6 but showing control passages accordingto FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a section through the machine including the apparatus of FIG.'4, showing the structural relation between the various cams and'partsoperated thereby in the assembly;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation showing suction head details inFIG. 3; 7

FIG. .12 is asection substantially on line FIG. 11;

FIG. 13, 14 and 15 are diagrammatic side elevations showing threedifferent operational phases of the apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 16 is a substantially plan view showing further detail of thebucket and suction head assemblies of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 17, 18, and 19 are diagrammatic side views showing differentrelative operational positions of the suction head and bucket in theapparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 20 is a generally perspective view showing a dual suction headpick-up;

FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic view showing control phases of the suctionhead of the apparatus of FIG. 3; and

12l2 in FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic view showing control phase of thesuction head of the apparatus of FIG. 4.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention will be described for its'preferredembodiment as incorporated in a soap bar wrapping system such asdisclosed in said Billi patent. Referring to the diagrammatic showing atFIG. 1 the invention comprises essentially a first rotary suction headpick-up sta-.

FIG. I is a diagrammatic view illustrating the nature I of a preferredapplication of the wrapping machine;

FIG. 2 is a generally perspective view illustrating detail as to thepreferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged generally perspective view showing apparatus forpicking up the soap from an input conveyor and transferring it to a feedconveyor;

invention to a soap FIG. 3A is a side elevation of a control cam for thesuction head in FIG. 3;

tion 11 for transferring each soap bar B in succession from-an incomingconveyor 12 to an endless belt feed conveyor 13 where the top flightexhibits compartments evenly spacing the bars therealong, and a secondrotary suction head pick-up station 14 for extracting soap bars insuccession from the feed conveyor and delivering them into thew'rappingstation at 15. In practice the incoming and feed conveyors and theactual wrapping mechanism are preferably of substantially the samestructure and disposition as disclosed in the Billipatent and theinvention is essentially concerned with transferring the soap barstherebetween.

FIG. 2 shows the transfer apparatus of FIG. 1 in more detail. Each soapbar B entering on conveyor 12 arrives in turn at a position adjacentstop 16, and at station 11 is picked up by asuction head unit 17 carriedby a rotating drum-18. There are three equally spaced units 17 carriedby drum l8, and only one is shown for clarity of disclosure. Drum 18 isvertical, being suitably rotated by power drive means (not shown) tocontinuously turn about a fixed horizontal axis. On its front face drum18 has affixed three equidistantly spaced projections 19 for mountingthe suction head units 17.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, each unit 17 comprises a bracket 21 securedon a projection 19 as by a bolt 22. A shallow groove 23 in the surfaceof bracket 21 seats a bar 24 that'(FIG. 12) has a cylindrical section 25extending beyond the end of bracket 21 to pivotally mount the hub 26 ofa lever unit 27 that comprises an arm 28 extending from hub 26 tosupport a cam follower roller 29. Another arm 31 (FIG. 11) on the leverunit 27 extends at right angles to arm 28 to connect hub 26 rigidly toan intermediate portion of a lever 32 which at one end is apertured at33 to mount a suction cup assembly 34. At its other end lever 32 isengaged by the end of an adjustment bolt 35 that extends through anopening in a plate 36 fixed to bar 34 as by a screw '37 (FIG. 3). Atension spring 38 is connected at opposite ends to plate 36 and lever32, and an adjustable nut 39 is mounted on the threaded end and bolt 35in abutment with plate 36.

Thus, in the assembly, the suction head unit is pivotallymounted on thepivot 25 that is fixed on drum 18 and is parallel to the axis ofrotation of drum 18. Adjustment by nut 39 may vary the normal angularposition of lever 32 and therefore the suction head unit relative todrum 18, nd the adjustment is maintained by spring 38. Holding screw 27has its lower end extending into a selected one ofa number of threadedbores (not shown) in the bottom of groove 23, whereby the bar 24 andtherefore the suction head unit as a whole may be adjusted toward oraway from drum 18.

The suction cup assembly 34 comprises a flexible rubber cup 41 adaptedto engage the soapb ar- (FIG. 3),

-the interior of the cup being connected by an internal passage to aconduit section 42 coupledto a flexible hose 43. Hose 43 is connected toa valve assembly 44 that cyclically controls the application of suctionto cup 41.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and -8 the valve assembly 44 comprises a centralcylindrical member 45 that is pro vided at one end with an enlarged head46. At theother end member 45' is formed with a reduced diameterthreaded mounting section 47 and a suction conduit attachment nipple 48.Valve member 45 is fixed to an upright 49 rigid with the machine frame51. The reduced end of member 45 extends through an opening 52 (FIG. 5)in upright 49 until shoulder 53 abuts the upright, and a holding nut 54is mounted on threaded section 47.

A cylindrical annular valve barrel 55 is rotatably mounted on valvemember 45. As shown in FIG. 5, the outer diameter of barrel 55 is equalto the diameter of valve head 46, and the adjacent flat smooth annularaxially facing surfaces 56 and 57 of the head and barrel are in rotativesliding contactin a plane. The other annular end. surface 58 of barrel55 is in smooth sliding contact with the adjacent planar surface 59 ofthe upright, whereby rotatable barrel 55 is axially fixed on member 45.-

As shown in FIG. 2, a post 61 is fixed centrally of drum 18 and itprojects horizontally toward valve assembly 44.-At its outer end post 61has'secured thereto a bifurcated arm 62 embracing a pin 63 projectingradially from barrel 55. In the assembly drum l8,'post'6l tion of drum18.

Barrel 55 (FIG. 6) is formed with three equiangularly spaced radialports 64 all opening-into its inner periphcry and all having threadedouter bores 65 for mounting a fitting 66 (FIG. 5) adapted for connectionto the other end of a flexible conduit 43 (FIG. 3) from one of thesuction heads on drum 18. The axes of ports 64 lie in a plane normal tothe axis of rotation ofbarrel 55 and about centrally along the barrel.

As shown in FIG. 5, stationary valve member 45 is centrally formed witha blind bore 67 closed at the end near head 46 and open through nipple 48. Bore 67 extends at least through the plane containing the axes of'ports'64. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 8, the surface of valve member 45 isformed with two circumferentially spaced but circumferentially alignedgrooves 68 and 69 of different-length. At opposite ends of the longergroove 68 radial ports 71 and 72 extend from that groove into bore 67.Preferably the angularspacing of the axes of ports 71 and 72 is aboutThe smaller groove 69 is formed intermediate its ends with a sidewallrecess 74 that extends to a longitudinalrecess 75 on member 45, andrecess 75 extends to a radial recess 76 in head surface 56 that opens toatmosphere.

In operation as valve barrel, 55 is continuously rotated, the threesuction heads 34 carried on rum 18 are selectively connected to a sourceof suction, as when their respective ports 64 communicate with groove68, and exhausted to atmosphere as their respective ports communicatewith groove 69.

A fixed cam plate 77 is secured to the machine frame (FIG. 3) andit isformed with a cam surface 78 engaged by follower roller 29 of thesuction head unit. The function of this cam is to periodically. rockeach suction head 34 through a small angle, clockwise in F lG.3 aboutpivot 25, and to control the position of the soap bar carried by thehead 34 relative to the conveyor 13, just after head 34 engages a bar ofsoap from conveyor 12 for a purpose to appear.

During operation, as drum 18 continuously rotates,

each suction head 34 will be connected to the source of suction justprior to the time it engages a soap bar and suction will be maintainedwhile the suction cup 41 engages and picks up the soap bar and while thesuction head carrying the bar along with it moves, by the indi-'catedcounter clockwise rotation of drum 18, to a point above acompartment on conveyor 13. Such a compartment free of soap is shown at80 in FIG. 2. At this point thevalve 44 cuts off communication ofsuctionto cup 41 and then vents conduit 43 to atmosphere whereby thesoap bar drops .by gravity into a compartment 80 below it. As soon asthe soap bar is picked up and starts moving awayfrom the pick-up pointshown in FIG. 2 the above-described clockwise rocking of the suctionhead on pivot 25 by cam 77 quickly takes place to raise.

the soap bar sufficiently to ensure that it will clear the edges ofconveyor 12 and the fingers 81 shown at opposite ends of compartment 80.Cam surface 78 is so con-.

' toured, see FIG. 3A, that the compensated movement suction and exhaustto cup 41 and the action of cam 77 are all accomplished in timedrelation, so that each suction head 34 in turn effects a friction-freepick-up of a bar of soap arriving on conveyor 12, raises it slightly,moves it in a line substantially parallel to the adjacent upper flightof conveyor 13 for a small distance and then deposits it into acompartment 80 on moving conveyor 13.

The initial pick-up is smooth and gentle with no mechanical gripping,and the relatively soft surface of cup 41 conforms generally to thesurface contour of the soap bar. When the soap bar is released over aconveyor compartment 80, it drops only a small distance vertically andrests on the smooth bottom of compartment 80. Thus the soap bar issubstantially free of deforming or mechanical gripping forces duringtransfer between conveyors 12 and 13 and is not subjected to any slidingalong guide or like surfaces, and so even though it may still be soft itremains unmarked on its surfaces.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 4 and the bars of soap B that have beendeposited in equally spaced compartments in conveyor 13 arrive insuccession at station 14 where a rotatable drum 91 mounts threeequiangularly spaced bucket assemblies 92 and a suction head pickupassembly 93 associated with each bucket assembly. These bucket andpick-up assemblies rotate with drum 9]. Only one pair of associatedbucket and suction pick-up assemblies is shown in detail for clarity ofdisclosure. All are preferably identical. As shown in FIG. 10 drum 91 isfixed as by a fastener 95 upon a horizontal shaft 96 continuouslyrotated as by a dual chain drive 97. Drum 91 is peripherally supportedby bearing 98 on machine frame 51.

As shown further in FIG. 10, each bucket 94 which is generallycup-shaped is secured as by bolts 99 upon the extended end 101 ofa rockshaft 102 supported in bearings 103 in drum 91 and having a crank arm104 at the other end mounting'a cam follower roller 105 disposed in acontinuous cam track 106 of a relatively stationary cam member 107 fixedto the machine frame 51.

Each bucket assembly includes an elevator member 108, here shown asbeing a bifurcated arm having two soap bar engaging pads 109, fixed uponthe extended end 111 of a rock shaft 112 journalled in bearing 1 13 indrum 91 and carrying at its other end a crank arm 114 mounting a camfollower roller 115 disposed in a continuous cam track 116 on cam member107.

Rock shafts 102 and 112 are parallel to shaft 96 of the drum. Duringoperation as drum 91 rotates each of the buckets 94 is rocked relativeto rotating drum 91 by the action of cam 106, and each elevator member108 is synchronously rocked relative to rotating drum 91 by the actionof cam 116. This operation will be later described in connection withthe associated operation of the suction pick-up assemblies.

It will be understood, however, that the construction, drive andoperation of drum 91, including the cam and rock shaft actuation of thebuckets and elevator members in timed relation, is essentially thesame-as in said Billi patent, to which reference is made for anynecessary detail to understand the same.

The invention, in the preferred embodiment being here disclosed,distinguishes at this station over the Billi patent apparatusessentially by inclusion of the suction pick-up assemblies 93 andmechanism for operating and actuating each of them in timed relation tothe associated bucket assembly.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 16, at the outer end of each bucket 94 a block117 is fixed as by welding and this mounts a pivot post 118 thatprojects parallel to rock shaft 102. Pivotally supported on post 118 isa lever 119 having a hub 121 surrounding post 118, an angularlyextending arm 122 at one end carrying a cam follower roller 123, and alongitudinally disposed arm 124 that projects along the base 125 of thebucket 94 and has secured thereto a rigid conduit 126 which extendsthrough the space between bucket side arms 127 and 128 and freelybetween the arms of elevator member 108 (FIG. 10). A tension spring 130interconnects bucket 94 and arm 124 to bias lever 119 counterclockwiseabout its pivot.

At one end conduit 126 carries a rubber suction cup 129, and at itsother end 131 is secured a flexible conduit 132 leading to control valveunit 133. Valve unit 133 is mainly of the same construction as valveunit 44, corresponding parts bearing the same numerals.

Valve unit 133 comprises a relatively stationary member that is the sameas member 45 in valve unit 44 except for the grooving and portarrangement shown in FIG. 9. Member 45' is formed with spacedcircumferentially aligned long and short surface grooves '68 and 69.Groove 68' is longer than groove 68 in member 45, and it is connected tocentral bore 67 by three spaced radial ports 135, 136 and 137. Valvemember 45 is stationarily mounted in the assembly in that it extendsthrough an aperture in an upright 138 rigid with machine frame 51 withshoulder 53 abutting one side of the upright and nut 54 tight on theother side.

Rotary barrel 55 is mounted on cylindrical member 45' as in FIG. 5, anda pin 139 extends radially from barrel 55 into the bifurcated end of arelatively rigid horizontal projection 140 on drum 91. In practice thisprojection may be the suction box employed in said Billi patent forhandling paper in the soap wrapping operation, but any equivalentprojection will suffice. Thus barrel 55 rotates continuously at thespeed of drum 91."

A stationary annular cam member 141 is attached to upright 138 as byscrews 142 passing through a block 143 rigid with both. Block 143 spacescam member 141 inwardly from upright 138 to enable roller 123 to engagethe cam control surface 144 that extends all around the outer peripheryof member 141. As shown in FIG. 4A, cam surface 144 comprises twocircularly curved surfaces a and b coaxial with a center 0. At the topsurfaces a and b are connected by an inclined flat surface d, and at thebottom surfaces a and b areconnected by a reversely curved surface eincluding a depression f. The control functions of these surfaces willbe described below.

As each soap bar B in turn approaches station 14 on the conveyor 13, abucket assembly 92' with the associated suction pickup oncounterclockwise rotating drum 91 is descending toward the conveyor 13in timed relation. FIG. 17 diagrammatically shows the relationship ofparts at this time. The angular disposition of bucket 94 is controlledby cam 106 and when the bucket reaches a position just above conveyor 13it is rocked slightly toward the conveyor, this controlled motion of thebucket being as disclosed in said Billi patent.

During this time, as bucket assembly 92 is approaching conveyor 13, theassociated suction head assembly 93 is held retracted within theconfines of the bucket somewhat in the position illustrated in FIG.except that of course there is no soap in the bucket. At this time camroller 123 is moving along surface a of cam 141 (FIG. 4A). Just beforethe bucket starts to rock toward the conveyor, however, cam roller 123enters the cam surface e, f (FIG. 4A) and this allows the lever 119 torock relative to the bucket counterclockwise in FIG. 17 to displace thesuction head quickly out of the confines of the bucket and into the soapengaging position shown in FIGS. 4 and 13. The suction head at thispoint is moved toward the soap faster than the bucket. The suction headhad been connected to its source of suction prior to this movement aswill appear. The parts are so arranged that the suction cup 129 hasflush even contact with the top surface of the soap bar to be removed bysuction from conveyor 13. There is preferably no relative sliding motionbetween the suction cup and the soap bar as they engage.

Now, as drum 9 1 continues to rotate, cam roller 123 moves to roll alongcam surface b (FIG. 4A) thereby rocking the suction head back within theconfines of the bucket to the position shown in FIG. 15. In practice theinterior of the bucket 94 against which the soap bar may be drawn whenthe parts are as in FIG. 15 is preferably lined with a soft rubber orlike layer to reduce the chances of marking the soap. As shown in FIG.17, when the bucket assembly reaches position 92 the soap bar has beenremoved from conveyor 13, being supported within the bucket solely bythe force of the suction head, and is moving upward toward the wrappingdevice. This relationship as shown by bucket assembly position 92 ismaintained as the drum 91 totates through the position illustrated inFIG. 18.

While the drum is rotating through the soap bar pickup and raisingpositions of FIGS. 17 and 18, the elevator device 108 ismaintainedretracted from the bucket out of engagement with the soap by the actionof cam 116, this being essentially the same as operation of the samedisclosed in said Billi patent.

Eventually the continued rotation of drum 91 brings the bucket assemblyto its top position 92 in FIG. 19, at which time the suction head is cutoff from its source of suction to free the soap bar to rest in thebucket that by this time is facing upwardly. At the time the suction iscut off, cam roller 123 enters cam surface d (FIG.

4A) to cause lever 119 to rock clockwise through asmall angle, while cam106 is acting through the drum to oppositely rock the bucket slightlycounterclockwise to insure complete separation of the soap bar andsuction head. This relative positioning of the parts is shown in FIG. 14in detail. I

At this time elevator 108 is actuated by cam 116 to project up throughthe bucket to engage and raise the soap bar into the grasp of fingers151 (FIG. 19) of a conveyor 152. This actuation of elevator 108 and thetake away operation of fingers I51 and conveyor 152 is the same asdisclosed in said Billi patent and per se does not comprise part of thepresent invention. Reference is made to said Billi patent for thesubsequent handling and wrapping operations.

' FIG. 20 illustrates an optional structure of the bucket and suctionhead assemblies which is preferable when the soap bars are relativelyheavy. For example, the single suction cup arrangement of FIG. 16 may beadequate for soap bar weights up to grams, while the dual suction cuparrangement of FIG. 20 may raise soap bars weighing up to 220 grams.

In FIG. 20 the structure is generally the same as that of FIGS. 13-16,the exception being that bucket arms 127 and 128 may be spaced furtherapart, and two tubes 126 extend down to terminate in two soap engagingsuction cups 129 at the same level. Otherwise, the arrangement andoperation are the same.

FIG. 21 shows the diagrammatic motion path of each suction cup 41 andthe associated timing of valve 44 with respect to that suction cup 41.As shown in FIG. 21, suction cup 41 is vented to'atmosphere through mostof each revolution of drum 18, and valve 44 connects it to vacuumapproximately 15 after it passes to its lower left quadrant of motion.During'the remainder of its motion through that quadrant, suction cup 41is connected to the source of suction, that is between points V and V Von FIG. 21. It will be noted that suction cup 41 is descending almostvertically as it picks up the relatively stationary soap bar at point S,that while it carries the soap bar it slightly rises and then movesalmost horizontally due to the above-explained control of cam 77, andthat at the end of this horizontal movement the soap which is movinghorizontally at substantially the speed of conveyor 13 may drop awayfrom it into the conveyor compartment as the suction is released atpoint V FIG. 22 shows diagrammatically the path of movement of eachsuction cup 129 during a revolution of drum 91, and the associatedtiming of valve 133 with respect to that suction cup. It will be notedthat suction cup 129 is vented to atmosphere through about of itsmovement, being connected to its source of suction by valve 133 at pointV during movement in the lower quadrant. Under control of cam 177suction cup 129 becomes disposed to move in a generally horizontaldirection at substantially the speed of travel of the soap bar onconveyor 13 over to point S where it picks up the soap bar. Betweenpoints S and V the soap bar is supported wholly by the vacuum forceapplied through suction cup 129, and when the suction cup is vented atV, the soap remains in the upwardly open bucket where it remains untillifted out by the elevator.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended .to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed-and desired to be secured by Letters I Patent is:

4 1'. A method of transferring a succession of freshly processedrelatively soft surfaced bars of soap or the like from an intakeconveyor to. a wrapping or like further processing machine comprisingthe steps of effecting suction pick-up of each bar and moving the barsupported wholly by vacuum in a generally horizontal predetermineddirection to a position above the substantially horizontal top flight ofa moving feed conveyor,

depositing said bars in spaced compartments along said feed conveyorwithout sliding contact with that conveyor, and subsequently effectingsuction pick-up of each bar in succession from the feed conveyor andraising it supported wholly by vacuum to an upper level for delivery tooperative elements of said machine.

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein each of said suction pick-upoperations is carried out by substantially vertical movement of asuction element into engagement of the associated bar for optimum lackof surface damage.

3. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said bars are randomly fed insuccession into position for effecting the first-named suction pick-upoperation.

4. The method defined in claim 1, including the step wherein each barafter initial pick-up is moved along a path adjacent to and at a speedsubstantially the same as the feed conveyor and while so moving isdeposited onto that conveyor.

5. An article handling machine wherein a succession of soft surfacedarticles fed into the machine are transferred with an optimum lack ofmechanical gripping and/or sliding to an operational station at a higherlevel comprising intake conveyor means for feeding said articles inrandom succession into said machine in a first predeterminedsubstantially horizontal direction, suction means for. picking up eacharticle in succession from said intake conveyor means and moving it in asecond predetermined substantially horizontal direction along apredetermined path at an angle to said first direction, feed conveyormeans having a portion moving adjacently below said path in the samedirection and at substantially the speed of movement of the articlesbeing transferred along said path, control means for said suctionpick-up means for releasing each article in turn to deposit saidarticles in predetermined spaced relation on said feed conveyor means,and further suction means for extracting each said article in successionfrom said feed conveyor means and raising it to said operational stationin timed relation with operation of said pick-up means.

6. The article handling machine defined" in claim 5, wherein saidpick-up means comprises a first suction head, and said control meansincludes a first valved inlet to said first suction head.

7. The article handling machine defined in claim 6, wherein said firstsuction head is movably supported on a first member continuously rotatedabout an axis disposed transversely with respect to 'said path, and afirst cam means is provided for controlling the disposition of saidfirst suction head on said first member for determining said path.

8. The article handling machine defined in claim 5, wherein said articleextracting means comprises a second suction head, and control meansincluding a valved inlet is provided for sequentially energizing saidsecond suction head for picking up each article and deenergizing saidsecond suction head for releasing said article for delivery to saidoperational station.

9. The article handling machine defined in claim 8, wherein said secondsuction head is movably mounted on a second member continuously rotatedabout an axis disposed transversely with respect to said path, and asecond cam means is provided for controlling the disposition of saidsecond suction head on said second member.

10. Apparatus for transferring to an operational station relatively softsurfaced articles of such nature that they are subject to surface damagewhen mechanically gripped or caused to slide along fixed guide surfacescomprising feed conveyor means continuously moved in a predeterminedsubstantially horizontal direction, a first suction means at one end ofsaid conveyor means for picking up a series of such articles insuccession and depositing them in predetermined spacing on said conveyormeans, a second suction means at the other end of said conveyor meansfor subsequently effecting pickup and extraction of each article fromsaid conveyor means and delivering ea'ch extracted article in spacedsuccession to said operational station, meansmounting each of saidsuction means on members that are continuously rotated about parallelaxes extending transversely of the direction of movement of saidconveyor means, and means for operating said conveyor means and both ofsaid suction meansin timed relation, each of said suction meanscomprising a continuously rotatable member pivotally mounting a set ofangularly spaced suction heads that are rockable about axes parallel tothose of said members, each set of said suction heads being connected toa source of vacuum by means including a control valve unit individual tothat set, and each said valve unit being periodically actuated. by meanson each suction head engaging cam means to periodically synchronouslyenergize and deenergize said suction heads during each revolution ofsaid members.

11. Apparatus for transferring to an operational station relatively softsurfaced articles of such nature that they are subject to surface damagewhen mechanically gripped or caused to slide along fixed guide surfacescomprising feed conveyor means continuously moved in a predeterminedsubstantially horizontal direction, a first suction means at one end ofsaid conveyor means for picking-up a series of such articles insuccession and depositing them in predetermined spacing on said conveyormeans, a second suction means at the other end of said conveyor meansfor subsequently effecting pickup and extraction of each article fromsaid conveyor means and delivering each extracted article in spacedsuccession to said operational station, means mounting each of saidsuction means on members that are continuously rotated about parallelaxes extending transversely of the direction of movement of saidconveyor means, and means for operating said conveyor means and both ofsaid suction means in timed relation, said first suction meanscomprising a continuously rotatable first member pivotally mounting aplurality of angularly spaced suction heads that are rockable about axesparallel to that of said first member, said suction heads beingconnected to a source of vacuum by means ineluding a common controlvalve unit, and said valve unit being operated toperiodically energizeand deenergize each suction head during each revolution of said firstmember.

12. Apparatus for transferring to an operational station relatively softsurfaced articles of such nature that they are subject to surface damagewhen mechanically gripped or caused to slide along fixed guide surfacescomprising feed conveyor means continuously moved in a predeterminedsubstantially horizontal direction, a first suction means at one end ofsaid conveyor means for picking up a series of such articles insuccession and depositing them in predetermined spacing on said conveyormeans, a second suction means at the other end a of said conveyor meansfor subsequently effecting pickup and extraction of said article fromsaid conveyor means and delivering each extracted article in spacedsuccession to said operational station, means mounting each of saidsuction means on members that are continuously rotated about parallelaxes extending transversely of the direction of movement of saidconveyor means, and means for operating said conveyor means and both ofsaid suction means in timed relation, said second suction meanscomprising a continuously rotatable second member pivotally mounting aplurality of angularly spaced suction heads that are rockable about axesparallel to that of said second member, said suction heads beingconnected to a source of vacuum by means including a common controlvalve unit, and said control valve unit being operated to periodicallyenergize and deenergize each suction head during each revolution of saidsecond member.

13. Article transfer means for damage-free transport of relativelysoft-surfaced articles between relatively movable conveyors comprising asupport, a member mounted on said support for rotation about asubstantially horizontal axis, a plurality of angularly spaced suctiondevices individually rockably mounted on said member on axes that areparallel to that of said member, a first conveyor means adjacent saidmember whereby articles picked up by said suction devices from a secondconveyor means may be moved to and deposited in succession on said firstconveyor means, cam means on said support adapted to be operablyconnected for causing each of said suction devices in turn to rockrelative to said rotating member and to move in a predetermined pathwhile transferring an article to said first conveyor means, means forconnecting said suction devices to a source of vacuum including acontrol valve on said support periodically actuated by said rotatingmember to energize and deenergize said suction device during eachrevolution of said member, means for adjusting each said suction deviceabout its axis of rocking, and correlated means for adjusting eachsuction device toward and away from said member.

14. Article transfer means comprising a member rotatable about asubstantially horizontal axis, at least one bucket assembly rockablymounted on said memher, a suction device rockably mounted on said memberat and for relative movement with respect to said bucket assembly, cammeans operably connected to said suction device adapted to displace saidsuction device relative to said bucket assembly in-different'positionsof rotation of said member, conveyor means adapted to deliver articlesin predetermined spaced relation to be picked up in turn by said suctiondevice during rotation of said member, and means driven by said rotatingmember for connecting said suction device to a source of vacuumincluding a control valve periodically actuated to energize anddeenergize said suction device during each revolution of said member.

15. A article transfer means as defined in claim 14, wherein saidcontrol valve comprises a part rotatably driven by said member.

16. Article transfer means as defined in claim 14, said suction devicebeing rockably'supported on said bucket assembly.

17. Article transfer means comprising a member rotatable about asubstantially horizontal axis, at least one bucket assembly mounted onsaid member, a suction device rockably mounted on said member at and forrelative movement with respect to said bucket assembly, cam meansoperablyconnected to said suction device adapted to displace saidsuction device relative to said-bucket assembly in different positionsof rotation of said member, conveyor means adapted to deliver articlesin predetermined spaced relation to be picked up in turn by said suctiondevice during rotation of said member, and means for connecting saidsuction device to a source of vacuum including a control valveperiodically actuated to energize and deenergize said suction deviceduring each revolution of said member, said cam controlled suctiondevice having an article engaging element that is disposed within thebucket assembly during a major portion of each revolution of saidmember, is displaced outof said bucket to pick up an article from saidconveyor means during another portion of revolution of said member andis withdrawn with respect to said bucket assembly to release saidarticle within said bucket assembly during another portion of revolutionof said member.

18. Article transfer means as defined inclaim 1, wherein said bucketassembly is movably mounted on said member and includes an elevatormovably mounted on said member, and means is provided for oppositelydisplacing said bucket assembly and elevator when said article isreleased, saidelevator being operative upon said withdrawal of saidsuction element to move said article out of the bucket assembly to afurther operational station.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION July 16, 1974Patent No. 18231809 Dated IIWentOflS) Marcel Henrv et al It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

' Column 3, line 19, change "34 to --24;

Column 3, 'line 29, change nd" to and .Column 3, line 30, change "27" to'-'-3 7 Column 4, line 29 change "rum'f to -'drum.

- Column., 7, line 57 change "of'" (second occurence) to -on. Y

- Claim 12, Column 10, line 65 change said (f.irst

'occurence) to --each. v w

Claim 18, Column 12, line 38 change to --17--.

Signed and sealed thia 8th day of October 1974,

(SEAL) Attest: g I g MCCOY M, GIBSON JR, c. MARSHALD'DANN AttestingOfficer Commissioner of Patents

1. A method of transferring a succession of freshly processed relativelysoft surfaced bars of soap or the like from an intake conveyor to awrapping or like further processing machine comprising the steps ofeffecting suction pick-up of each bar and moving the bar supportedwholly by vacuum in a generally horizontal predetermined direction to aposition above the substantially horizontal top flight of a moving feedconveyor, depositing said bars in spaced compartments along said feedconveyor without sliding contact with that conveyor, and subsequentlyeffecting suction pick-up of each bar in succession from the feedconveyor and raising it supported wholly by vacuum to an upper level fordelivery to operative elements of said machine.
 2. The method defined inclaim 1, wherein each of said suction pick-up operations is carried outby substantially vertical movement of a suction element into engagementof the associated bar for optimum lack of surface damage.
 3. The methoddefined in claim 1, wherein said bars are randomly fed in successioninto position for effecting the first-named suction pick-up operation.4. The method defined in claim 1, including the step wherein each barafter initial pick-up is moved along a path adjacent to and at a speedsubstantially the same as the feed conveyor and while so moving isdeposited onto that conveyor.
 5. An article handling machine wherein asuccession of soft surfaced articles fed into the machine aretransferred with an optimum lack of mechanical gripping and/or slidingto an operational station at a higher level comprising intake conveyormeans for feeding said articles in random succession into said machinein a first predetermined substantially horizontal direction, suctionmeans for picking up each article in succession from said intakeconveyor means and moving it in a second predetermined substantiallyhorizontal direction along a predetermined path at an angle to saidfirst direction, feed conveyor means having a portion moving adjacentlybelow said path in the same direction and at substantially the speed ofmovement of the articles being transferred along said path, controlmeans for said suction pick-up means for releasing each article in turnto deposit said articles in predetermined spaced relation on said feedconveyor means, and further suction means for extracting each saidarticle in succession from said feed conveyor means and raising it tosaid operational station in timed relation with operation of saidpick-up means.
 6. The article handling machine defined in claim 5,wherein said pick-up means comprises a first suction head, and saidcontrol means includes a first valved inlet to said first suction head.7. The article handling machine defined in claim 6, wherein said firstsuction head is movably supported on a first member continuously rotatedabout an axis disposed transversely with respect to said path, and afirst cam means is provided for controlling the disposition of saidfirst suction head on said first member for determining said path. 8.The article handling machine defined in claim 5, wherein said articleextracting means comprises a second suction head, and control meansincluding a valved inlet is provided for sequentially energizing saidsecond suction head for picking up each article and deenergizing saidsecond suction head for releasing said article for delivery to saidoperational station.
 9. The article handling machine defined in claim 8,wherein said second suction head is movably mounted on a second membercontinuously rotated about an axis disposed transversely with respect tosaid path, and a second cam means is provided for controlling thedisposition of said second suction head on said second member. 10.Apparatus for transferring to an operational station relatively softsurfaced articles of such nature that they are subject to surface damagewhen mechanically gripped or caused to slide along fixed guide surfacescomprising feed conveyor means continuously moved in a predeterminedsubstantially horizontal direction, a first suction means at one end ofsaid conveyor means for picking up a series of such articles insuccession and depositing them in predetermined spacing on said conveyormeans, a second suCtion means at the other end of said conveyor meansfor subsequently effecting pick-up and extraction of each article fromsaid conveyor means and delivering each extracted article in spacedsuccession to said operational station, means mounting each of saidsuction means on members that are continuously rotated about parallelaxes extending transversely of the direction of movement of saidconveyor means, and means for operating said conveyor means and both ofsaid suction means in timed relation, each of said suction meanscomprising a continuously rotatable member pivotally mounting a set ofangularly spaced suction heads that are rockable about axes parallel tothose of said members, each set of said suction heads being connected toa source of vacuum by means including a control valve unit individual tothat set, and each said valve unit being periodically actuated by meanson each suction head engaging cam means to periodically synchronouslyenergize and deenergize said suction heads during each revolution ofsaid members.
 11. Apparatus for transferring to an operational stationrelatively soft surfaced articles of such nature that they are subjectto surface damage when mechanically gripped or caused to slide alongfixed guide surfaces comprising feed conveyor means continuously movedin a predetermined substantially horizontal direction, a first suctionmeans at one end of said conveyor means for picking up a series of sucharticles in succession and depositing them in predetermined spacing onsaid conveyor means, a second suction means at the other end of saidconveyor means for subsequently effecting pick-up and extraction of eacharticle from said conveyor means and delivering each extracted articlein spaced succession to said operational station, means mounting each ofsaid suction means on members that are continuously rotated aboutparallel axes extending transversely of the direction of movement ofsaid conveyor means, and means for operating said conveyor means andboth of said suction means in timed relation, said first suction meanscomprising a continuously rotatable first member pivotally mounting aplurality of angularly spaced suction heads that are rockable about axesparallel to that of said first member, said suction heads beingconnected to a source of vacuum by means including a common controlvalve unit, and said valve unit being operated to periodically energizeand deenergize each suction head during each revolution of said firstmember.
 12. Apparatus for transferring to an operational stationrelatively soft surfaced articles of such nature that they are subjectto surface damage when mechanically gripped or caused to slide alongfixed guide surfaces comprising feed conveyor means continuously movedin a predetermined substantially horizontal direction, a first suctionmeans at one end of said conveyor means for picking up a series of sucharticles in succession and depositing them in predetermined spacing onsaid conveyor means, a second suction means at the other end of saidconveyor means for subsequently effecting pick-up and extraction of saidarticle from said conveyor means and delivering each extracted articlein spaced succession to said operational station, means mounting each ofsaid suction means on members that are continuously rotated aboutparallel axes extending transversely of the direction of movement ofsaid conveyor means, and means for operating said conveyor means andboth of said suction means in timed relation, said second suction meanscomprising a continuously rotatable second member pivotally mounting aplurality of angularly spaced suction heads that are rockable about axesparallel to that of said second member, said suction heads beingconnected to a source of vacuum by means including a common controlvalve unit, and said control valve unit being operated to periodicallyenergize and deenergize each suction head during each revolution of saidsecond member.
 13. Article transfer means for damage-free transport oFrelatively soft-surfaced articles between relatively movable conveyorscomprising a support, a member mounted on said support for rotationabout a substantially horizontal axis, a plurality of angularly spacedsuction devices individually rockably mounted on said member on axesthat are parallel to that of said member, a first conveyor meansadjacent said member whereby articles picked up by said suction devicesfrom a second conveyor means may be moved to and deposited in successionon said first conveyor means, cam means on said support adapted to beoperably connected for causing each of said suction devices in turn torock relative to said rotating member and to move in a predeterminedpath while transferring an article to said first conveyor means, meansfor connecting said suction devices to a source of vacuum including acontrol valve on said support periodically actuated by said rotatingmember to energize and deenergize said suction device during eachrevolution of said member, means for adjusting each said suction deviceabout its axis of rocking, and correlated means for adjusting eachsuction device toward and away from said member.
 14. Article transfermeans comprising a member rotatable about a substantially horizontalaxis, at least one bucket assembly rockably mounted on said member, asuction device rockably mounted on said member at and for relativemovement with respect to said bucket assembly, cam means operablyconnected to said suction device adapted to displace said suction devicerelative to said bucket assembly in different positions of rotation ofsaid member, conveyor means adapted to deliver articles in predeterminedspaced relation to be picked up in turn by said suction device duringrotation of said member, and means driven by said rotating member forconnecting said suction device to a source of vacuum including a controlvalve periodically actuated to energize and deenergize said suctiondevice during each revolution of said member.
 15. A article transfermeans as defined in claim 14, wherein said control valve comprises apart rotatably driven by said member.
 16. Article transfer means asdefined in claim 14, said suction device being rockably supported onsaid bucket assembly.
 17. Article transfer means comprising a memberrotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, at least one bucketassembly mounted on said member, a suction device rockably mounted onsaid member at and for relative movement with respect to said bucketassembly, cam means operably connected to said suction device adapted todisplace said suction device relative to said bucket assembly indifferent positions of rotation of said member, conveyor means adaptedto deliver articles in predetermined spaced relation to be picked up inturn by said suction device during rotation of said member, and meansfor connecting said suction device to a source of vacuum including acontrol valve periodically actuated to energize and deenergize saidsuction device during each revolution of said member, said camcontrolled suction device having an article engaging element that isdisposed within the bucket assembly during a major portion of eachrevolution of said member, is displaced out of said bucket to pick up anarticle from said conveyor means during another portion of revolution ofsaid member and is withdrawn with respect to said bucket assembly torelease said article within said bucket assembly during another portionof revolution of said member.
 18. Article transfer means as defined inclaim 1, wherein said bucket assembly is movably mounted on said memberand includes an elevator movably mounted on said member, and means isprovided for oppositely displacing said bucket assembly and elevatorwhen said article is released, said elevator being operative upon saidwithdrawal of said suction element to move said article out of thebucket assembly to a further operational station.